NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub

Tech Hubs Official Designee Badge

Lead Agency: CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity  

State Served: New York  

Applicant-Defined Region: Buffalo; Rochester; Syracuse; Ithaca; Auburn; and Batavia MSAs 

Core Technology Area: semiconductor manufacturing  

Contact: Joseph Stefko (jstefko@roc2025.org)  

Media Contact: Benjamin Sio (bsio@centerstateceo.com)  

The New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub), led by CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity, aims to enhance regional semiconductor manufacturing capabilities while ensuring economic opportunity for underserved communities. This Tech Hub will coordinate across the region’s significant semiconductor fabrication investments, adjacent supply chain assets, scientific capabilities coalitions, and partner coalitions to establish an entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem that provides career pathways and employment opportunities to the region’s historically underserved communities.  

The NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub seeks to shift the trajectory of Upstate New York via the formation of a globally leading semiconductor cluster which designs and delivers semiconductor solutions for the region, the nation, and the world.  This effort leverages other recent investments to the region’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, including an EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge award from 2022.  

In July 2024, EDA recommended this Tech Hub receive grant funding of approximately $40 million to implement four projects, including: 

  • Establishing a supply chain network that expands capacity of existing and potential suppliers through scaling manufacturing support;  

  • Closing critical gaps in upskilling, hiring, and retention of predominantly middle-skilled positions in semiconductor-specific roles through workforce development programs;  

  • Increasing access to regional semiconductor research and development assets, which will facilitate collaboration across research institutions and stimulate innovation in semiconductor manufacturing and commercialization of new technology;  

  • Integrating consortium-wide strategy support throughout all components of the Tech Hub to provide management of targeted stakeholder engagement, industry engagement, equity efforts, and stewardship of discretionary impact funding.  

 To ensure that the impacts of the Tech Hub projects benefit the entire region, the consortium is committed to building off proven workforce development models to engage and serve under-represented communities, and support startups led by founders from under-represented backgrounds.  

Designee Narrative (PDF) (submitted by the designee in its Phase 2 application package)

Press Releases

    Additional Designations Earned in Region

    Build Back Better Regional Challenge Badge Finalist